Wat Da Pho!

The charm of many pho joints may be the décor, or lack thereof, but this new South Melbourne eatery deviates from this traditional style. And, you can build your own bowl.

Photography: Bonnie Lo

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Photography: Bonnie Lo

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Photography: Bonnie Lo

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Published on 11 February 2013

by Sara Savage

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South Melbourne pho-philes are rejoicing with the opening of the area's first local pho joint, Wat Da Pho. If you can overlook the gimmicky name, Wat Da Pho certainly gives Melbourne's most illustrious pho venues in Richmond, Footscray and Preston a run for their money.

The charm of the majority of Melbourne's favourite pho joints lies in their decor – or lack thereof – with most choosing not to decorate beyond plastic chairs and tables, mirrored walls and mounted TV screens. Wat Da Pho definitely deviates from this pattern, presenting a considered interior filled with Vietnamese knick-knacks and pho paraphernalia. Head chef Kim Tran, who started the restaurant with husband Mike Vongsykeo, has a background in event design and is responsible for the restaurant's sophisticated look.

The venue may be dressed to the nines, but the pho is traditional, authentic and (perhaps most importantly) under $10. Diners also have the option of building their own pho with their preferred choices of noodles and meat. According to Vongsykeo, the stock is cooked from scratch with natural ingredients and zero MSG, with the recipe devised by Tran and manager Danh Nguyen after travelling back to Vietnam to learn the science of making one of the country's most celebrated dishes.

Wat Da Pho is licensed, so diners can offset their spicy pho with alcoholic blended ice drinks like Bom Rau Thom (apple, mint, coconut and vodka) or Ngan Dua Khom (pineapple and coconut with lychee liqueur), not to mention a selection of non-alcoholic smoothies.